You Should (Not) Meet Your Heroes

DATE: 2019-11-15

I once met Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the mecha anime Mobile Suit Gundam. He also produced Voltes V, another super-robot show that was a huge cultural phenomenon in my native Philippines1. As a roboticist who based many life decisions on these formative works, it’s needless to say that Tomino had a great influence on my life’s trajectory.

I won a lottery for a signing opportunity with Tomino at AnimeNYC 2019. It was obvious to have him sign part of a model kit, so I express-ordered an MG RX-78-2 and chose to bring the shield. At the signing table, I told Tomino2 how I had been watching Gundam and building the model kits since I was young, leading to becoming a graduate student doing robotics research.

He let out a regretful chuckle and planted his forehead on the table.

I profusely thanked him, and he wished me good luck as I left. Maybe facedesking was Tomino expressing disappointment that, again, someone has missed the anti-war story3 for the shiny robot toys and could be actively contributing towards the real-life war machines4 he was commenting on. Whatever the reason, memorable lessons deny explanation.

  1. Filipino broadcaster GMA even adapted the story into a live-action teledrama. ↩

  2. In overly rehearsed Japanese, to the point of feeling faint practicing in line. ↩

  3. At an earlier post-panel Q&A, someone mentioned that they became a fighter pilot because of Gundam. Tomino looked more disappointed with that guy than with me. ↩

  4. A great deal of robotics work is related to and funded by defense, though what I do is much closer to the companion robot Haro. ↩